Collapsible box.



. Patented Dec. 3, 19m.

A WINTER 'COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

(Application filed Apr 25, 1901.)

2 Shegts-$heqt I.

(lo Ilodol.)

Patented Dec. 3,1901. A. WINTER.

CULLAPSIBLE BOX.

, (Application filed Apr 25, 1901.)

(No Modgl.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m T i: 31 T 1 I if? 1' L FFlCE.

ATENT ANDREW WINTER, OF WEST COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,807, dated December90 Application filed A pril@5,1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW WINTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Govington, in the county of Kenton and State 'ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible or knockdown boxesand the like.

The object of my invention isto construct a box in such a manner that itmay, when empty, be easily and quickly-reduced to compact form, so as tooccupy as little space as possible for storage or shipping, and whendesired for use can be conveniently built up without injury to the partscomposing it.

My invention consists in providing a box or other similar structure withcorner-sockets, each having grooves or channels adapted to receive andhold the ends and sides of the box, and also suitable hinge-joints,wherebymovable parts of each side of the box may be placed within thelower part thereof and a part of each end folded down over the same andover the stationary portions of the sides.

My invention also consists in certain novel features of theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts, wherebyimportant advantages are attained and the box is rendered stronger, moredurable, and convenient; for use, storage, or shipping and the interiorthereof more accessible for packing or unpacking, especially where myinvention is applied to very large boxes, all as will be hereinafterfully set forth. The novel features of my invention will be defined'inthe claims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is aperspective view of the box having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2is a perspective view showing the box in partial knockdown position.Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the box in knockdown position havingthecover screwed thereto and partially broken away to show the position ofthe parts when folded together. Fig. 4 is a partial section of the box,taken through one of the corner-sockets. Fig. 5 is a similar view ofthese parts, showing the po sition of the parts when the box is folded.Fig. 6' is a top view of one of the metal cor ners.

Serial No. 57,368. (No model.)

Fig. '7 is a cross-section of Fig. 6, be low the top of the same. Fig. 8is ahorizontal section near the base of the corner-piece. Fig. 9 is aperspective view of the lower corner-socket. Fig. 10 is a View similarto Fig. 6, showing a modified construction of the corner -socket. Fig.11 is a modified form of one of my corner-sockets. Fig. 12 is anothermodification of one of the corner-sockets.

I preferably construct the corner-sockets A and B of metal and applythem to the box 0 or other structure, substantially as shown in thedrawings. The corner-sockets A are preferably formed of double angleshaving U-shaped grooves or channels a and a, as shown in Fig. 2, toengage the movable end pieces a and movable side pieces 0 of the box. Iprovide an ear or lug a at the top of each inner wall, as shown in Fig.2, to receive a screw or bolt for fastening the lid of the box thereto,as shown in Fig. 1.

The corner-sockets B are preferably formed with double angles havingU-shapedgrooves or channels I) and b to engage stationary end pieces 0and side pieces 0 of the box and are provided with plates Z2 formedintegral therewith, to strengthen and brace the lower corners of thebox, said construction being clearlyillustrated by Fig. 9. Ifdesired,however, this platemaybe omitted and the construction otherwise modifiedand simplified, as shown by Fig. 11. hen this latter construction isused, the end pieces are secured to the rear wall thereof, and the wallsof the channels are adapted to engage the ends of the sides of the box.When the modified construction shown in Fig. 12 is used, it is necessaryto form vertical grooves or channels near the end of each board engagingtherewith, in which the ribs a are adapted to fit, so as to preventendwise movement of the board and spreading of the box without the useof nails, and thereby maintaining the detachability of the end and sidepieces. When this form of structure is used, the end and side piecescannot be removed in the manner shown in Fig. 2, but must be lifted. outvertically.

The corner-sockets A. and B are hinged together in any suitable way, butpreferably by means of a pivot-pin a in the lower end Figs. 1 and 2.

of the corner-socket A taking throughan eye or loop b in the upper endof the cornersocket B.

When my corner-sockets are applied to a box, I prefer to have the endsextended so that they will come flush with the surface of the lid andbottom of the box, as shown in This requires a less number of screws andnails for holding the parts together, protects the corners of the lidand bottom, and otherwise materiallystrengthens the construction of thebox.

The manner of using my corner-sockets is as follows: Take two pieces ofboard of any desired width and length and insert each end thereof in oneof my corner-sockets, as shown at X in Fig. 2, each end engaging thewalls of the channel I) and fitting beneath and being held from verticalmovement by the loop 5 of the hinge-joint. Place these parts soconnected upon the bottom part of the box or similar structure andsecure the same thereto by suitable fastenin gs taking through the plate6 Then place a piece of the same width as the sides at each end, thesame engaging with the walls of the channels I) and being held bycontact with the same. These end and side pieces should all be of widthsufficient to form a space within the lower or stationary part of thebox large enough to receive the movable side pieces of the box andpermit the ends thereof to be folded down over the same, as shown inFig. 3. The parts of the box as thus far constructed are securedtogether practically in a permanent manner,

2 although the end pieces may with very little difficulty be heldwithout fastenings and removed and inserted easily. Next take the fourparts A and insert the ends of the boards in the grooves a to form themovable end pieces, as shown in Fig. 2. This forms a structure ready forpacking the contents therein. As the box is being filled up placeadditional pieces in the sides to engage the Walls of the channels atuntil the sides are entirely built up, as shown in Fig. 1. Then placethe lid thereon and fasten in the manner shown or in any other desiredWay. To remove the contents, reverse the operation, and when the box isempty place the movable side pieces within the bottom of the box, asindicated in Fig. 2, by one of the boards being placed in the bottom ofthe structure. After all of the side pieces have been so packed withinthe permanent portion of the box the movable end pieces are folded downover the same to the position shown in Fig. 3. The lid of the box isthen placed over the end pieces and may be held thereon and the endpieces held in place thereby by securing the parts together, as shown inFig. 3. This reduces a large box, as shown in Fig. 1, to a very compactand small-sized box (represented by Fig. 3) and enables the same to bestored in small space, handled with ease and facility, and shipped atmuch less expense, as well as injury to the box, than otherwise.

es'nso'r Referring to the modified construction shown in Fig. 11, theparts A and B may be applied so as to engage with the ends of the sidepieces and have the end pieces secured to the outer walls thereof byscrews or otherwise instead of in the manner previously described. Thisconstruction permits of the collapsibility of the box, but requires thatthe end pieces be permanently secured to the corners. WVhen the modifiedconstruction shown in Fig. 12 is used, it is necessary that the end andside pieces be grooved near each end to correspond with the ribs a andpermit the ribs to take and fit therein. This construction enables themovable pieces to be inserted and removed Without the use of screws ornails, thus rendering the movable parts detachable, and prevents theboards from moving endwise or the box from spreading.

These corner-sockets may be made of cast metal, as shown in Fig. 8, ormay be stamped out of sheet metal, as shown in Fig. 10, or of any othersuitable material desired.

, The plate b may be used in connection with the structure shown inFigs. 9 and 11 or may be omitted from either; but I prefer to use it, asit serves as a means to fasten the parts together and to strengthen thebox.

My corner-sockets not only serve to render the box collapsible, butserve to protect the corners and otherwise greatly strengthen the boxand make it more durable. This construction is also of great advantage,especially when packing or unpacking very large boxes, -as it enablesthe user to remove one or both sides, and thereby obtain easy access tothe interior. The side pieces of the box may be put in as the box isbeing filled and taken out as it is being emptied, in either case makingit very easy to handle the goods.

While my corner sockets are especially adapted, as shown in thedrawings, for renderin g boxes collapsible,they may also be used invarious other ways, and I do not, therefore, wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the use herein shown or to the precise form setforth.

I claim- 1. An angle-iron corner-socket for collapsi ble boxescomprising a stationary channel portion, a hinged portion securedthereto, the hinged channel portion being adapted to embrace thestationary side of the box when folded down.

2. A corner-socket for collapsible boxes comprising two stationarychannel portionsat right angles to each other adapted to hold the endsand sides of the box in place, and, hinged thereto, movable channelportions at right angles to each other adapted to hold the movable endsand sides of the box together, substantially as set forth.

3. In a collapsible box, a corner-socket comprising a movable partadapted to engage with removable parts of the ends and sides of a boxand also, when folded, to engage with IIO the stationary sides of a box,and a stationary part hinged to the movable part and adapted to engagethe ends and sides of the stationary part of the box, substantially asset forth.

4. In a collapsible box, a corner-socket having a channel portionadapted to engage and hold a part ot the box, in combination with asimilar corner-socket secured to the movable end of the box, said socketbeing adapted to fold over the stationary side of the box whereby thewalls of the channel will engage therewith, substantially as set forth.

5. A corner-socket having a channel por- ANDREW WINTER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT JOHNSON, WILLIAM WINTER.

